Series newsletter 2009-09-24

Nasr wins in Monza and secures Formula BMW Europe title.
Felipe Nasr took Formula BMW Europe title victory with his win in the
last round at Monza (IT). The Brazilian crossed the line two-tenths of a
second ahead of Eurointernational team-mate...

Nasr wins in Monza and secures Formula BMW Europe title.

Felipe Nasr took Formula BMW Europe title victory with his win in the
last round at Monza (IT). The Brazilian crossed the line two-tenths of a
second ahead of Eurointernational team-mate Daniel Juncadella (ES). Third
placed driver Doru Sechelariu (RO) celebrated his maiden podium place of
the year for Eifelland Racing. In the penultimate race of the season
Juncadella won from Nasr, with rookie Robin Frijns (NL/Josef Kaufmann
Racing) finishing third to secure overall victory in the Formula BMW
Europe Rookie Cup.

"It was fantastic to finish the series with a win like this, and to
claim the title," Nasr after his biggest career success to date.
"It was unbelievable and a perfect year for me, the team and all my
family. The work we did was very hard, so I think we really deserve
it."

With 392 points Nasr heads the provisional final classification, followed
by Juncadella (288), who in turn has 25 points on Frijns in third.

A winner from the very beginning: Felipe Nasr profile.

When Felipe Nasr sat on pole for the first round of the series in
Barcelona he was only taking part in his third ever car race. He had been
a guest driver in the two Formula BMW Americas races supporting the
Brazilian Grand Prix in 2008, but prior to that his experience was
limited to karting. However, in the Sao Paulo he managed to shine despite
his lack of experience, In the first one he was fifth and then in the
second he joined Alexander Rossi (US) and Daniel Juncadella (ES) on the
podium.

The driver from Brasilia, who started karting at age eight, comes from a
traditional motor racing family. Both his father and uncle raced in
Brazilian Formula 3 and Stock Cars. He cut his teeth in the cadet class,
and in his first year in 2000 he was crowned Brasilia Champion. Pole
positions, race wins and titles followed thick and fast, and by the time
he was ready to step up to single-seaters he was marked as a youngster to
watch. In 2009 he moved to Italy in order to contest Formula BMW Europe
with the Eurointernational team, run by the experienced Team Manager
Antonio Ferrari.

Ferrari describes the role played by BMW Motorsport's Brazilian
WTCC driver, Augusto Farfus, in taking up the talented youngster:
"We tested him two days after the Formula BMW World Final in Mexico
City. Augusto Farfus suggested we do this, and within 18 laps in one of
the cars that had done the World Final he was four tenths quicker than
the lap record we set in the World Final. Felipe has been absolutely
incredible with 14 podiums and five wins. Absolutely amazing."

Now the youngster needs to decide his next move in the sport. He can,
though, also dedicate time during the winter to his hobbies, which
include remote controlled model cars and video games. He also loves
playing soccer and tennis and enjoys fishing - which is a somewhat quiet
sport for a racing driver. Surprisingly his favourite racing driver is
not a fellow Brazilian, but Michael Schumacher; not so surprising,
though, is that he enjoys reading books about Ayrton Senna. He also likes
Harry Potter, and his favourite films include the Star Wars Trilogy and
all the James Bond titles.

Theissen: "We give something back to the sport."

Mario Theissen followed the final rounds of the Formula BMW Europe staged
on the programme of the Italian Grand Prix with great interest. "We
have seen many exciting races this season with some special
talent," commented the BMW Motorsport Director, "and I am
especially happy for Felipe Nasr, not only having won the race, but also
the title."

"For BMW running such a young driver scheme is part of our
heritage. Our young drivers' educational programme is where we give
something back to the sport. Having seen Nico Rosberg, Sebastian Vettel,
Timo Glock, Adrian Sutil and others arriving in Formula One it is just a
great reward for us, and I hope some of the drivers we have seen here
this year will make it to Formula One as well. If we look across the
season to see who has stood out it has been Felipe Nasr, who has won the
title, and Michael Christensen."

Formula BMW Pacific visits Singapore.

This weekend the participants in Formula BMW Pacific will race at the
"Marina Bay Circuit" in Singapore (SG). The race is a
highlight, not only for the Formula One drivers contesting the only Grand
Prix to be held totally under floodlights, but also for the young Formula
BMW drivers.

The fight for the title will continue to be fierce in Singapore.
Following four consecutive victories Rio Haryanto (ID/Questnet Team
Qi-Meritus) currently tops the drivers' table with 146 points,
followed by Gary Thompson (IR/E-Rain Racing) and Axcil Jefferies
(ZW/Eurasia Motorsport) with 134 and 124 points respectively.

Numerous guest drivers will take the start in Singapore. Felipe Nasr
(BR), recently crowned champion in Formula BMW Europe, will compete, as
well as Rookie Cup winner Michael Lewis (AU) and James Kovacic (AU) from
Formula BMW Americas. In addition, Jack Harvey (GB) from the European
series will make the journey to Asia.

Formula BMW Racing Center thrills Hungary.

Mid-September saw the Formula BMW Racing Center visit the Hungaroring
situated on the outskirts of Budapest (HU) for the second time after
2008. The event, staged in cooperation with BMW Driver Training Hungary,
saw approximately 120 drivers experience the thrill of driving the FB02
on the tight circuit situated in the Puszta region.

In perfect weather condition also a couple of young kart drivers were
among the participants and were thus able to gather their first
experiences in this safe FB02 single-seater. Following the success of the
event, another Formula BMW Racing Experience event is planned for next
year.

Further information on the Formula BMW Racing Experience is available
under: Formula BMW Racing Experience

Formula BMW Alumni Round-up.

- Nicolas Huelkenberg (DE) it is the new GP2 champion: Victory in the
penultimate round of the series secured the title for the 2005 Formula
BMW ADAC winner. In total, the 22-year-old scored 100 points, a cushion
of 25 over series runner-up Vitaly Petrov (RU). Following his titles in
Formula BMW and in the Formula 3 Euro Series, this marks
Huelkenberg's third major title victory in single-seater racing.

- Following his victory in the final event of the British F3 Championship
at Brands Hatch (GB), Daniel Ricciardo (AU) claimed the overall title.
With six victories and 12 podium places, the Formula BMW Asia Junior
proved to be the dominant driver of the season. He joins luminaries such
as Ayrton Senna (1983) and Mika Haekkinen (1990) as winner of the
championship.

- Fabio Leimer (CH), a Formula BMW competitor in 2006, has been crowned
International Formula Masters champion. The 20-year-old won the
penultimate race of the series at Imola (IT), with Alexander Rossi (US),
another Formula BMW graduate, winning the final round. Rossi ended fourth
in the final classification, behind Josef Kral (CZ), who also raced in
Formula BMW. In total Leimer scored seven victories, six pole positions
and 12 fastest laps during the season.

- Graham Rahal (US) celebrated the third podium place of his IndyRacing
League career in early September. In Motegi (JP) he finished third, 3.200
seconds behind winner Scott Dixon (NZ). Going into the season final in
Miami (US) on 10th October Rahal lays seventh in the championship with
366 points.

- Robert Wickens (CA) moved into second place in the FIA Formula Two
Championship. After finishing fourth in the first race in Imola (IT), the
20-year-old scored a podium place with second in the second race. Andy
Soucek (ES), on 95 points, has been confirmed champion, with Wickens (58)
second. The season ends in Barcelona (ES) on 31 October/1 November.

- Rene Rast (DE) celebrated his fifth Porsche Supercup victory in Monza
(IT), in the process relegating confirmed champion Jeroen Bleekemolen
(NL) and Norbert Siedler (AT) to second and third places respectively.
Rast holds second in the overall drivers' classification.